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"Your solicitude is touching" O'Reilly bowedhis tone, General Antuna proceeded in the saine s" The speaker's tone and expression were eloquent of concern "How could I fix the responsibility?"

"By having me followed, as usual, I dare say," O'Reilly said, bitterly

"Oh, you will of course be shadowed day and night; in fact, to be quite sure of your--er--safety I shall ask you to permit one of my men to accompany you everywhere and even to share your rooht of you, depend upon it But these detectives are careless fellows at best; I don't trust them Of course such precautions would exonerate me from all blame and relieve my Government from any responsibility for injury to you, but, nevertheless, it would tend to complicate relations already strained You see I aeneral allowed tihed once more "I wish you could find another clireat load from my mind I could offer you the hospitality of an escort to Neuvitas, and your friend Mr Branch is such good company he would so shorten your trip to New York!" The speaker paused hopefully; that same sardonic flicker was on his lips

John smile, for his heart was like lead He realized now the utter futility of resistance; he knew that to re would be to court destruction--and destruction of a shocking character against which it would be ie stricter than that to which he had been subjected would utterly defeat his plans After a ravely: "I appreciate the delicacy of your consideration, sir, and--I shall go"

General Antuna leaped to his feet, his gri to O'Reilly, he pressed his hands--he see him "I thank you!" he cried "You render me a supreme service See, I breathe easy Permit me to offer you refreshar in all Cuba!"

His expressions of gratitude were fulsoreatest favor of his life, but his words were like poison to his hearer

"You e to carry off his defeat with sorace In his bitterness he could not refrain fro, "If ain before long, either here or elsewhere"